The Secretary of State, with the approval of the Governor, is hereby authorized to sell state forfeited tax lands situated within the corporate limits of a municipality to the governing authorities of such municipality in the manner provided by law. If a municipality makes an application to purchase those lands, the municipality shall have priority over all other applicants except the original owner, his heirs or assigns.
As an alternative method to disposing of tax lands situated within a municipality, the Secretary of State, with the approval of the Governor, may transfer those lands to the municipality, which then may retain or dispose of the lands as provided by law.